Speaking Engagements
Jennifer has been speaking and teaching since 1997 and regularly leads seminars and workshops on screenwriting basics, writing for Hollywood, crime fiction, forensics, death investigation, and the creative life.
Speaking Engagements
JENNIFER IS AVAILABLE AS A
Crime Writing from the Trenches of Hollywood
What elements go into a top box office thriller? How do you craft a crowd-pleasing TV crime drama? Crime dramas, mysteries, and procedurals are a staple in our entertainment diet. Flip through the channels and you will find a crime show any hour of the day or night.
From to NCIS to Stranger Things, there truly is a crime story out there for every one.
Great crime stories are engineered, not just imagined and Hollywood knows how to kill it (pun intended)!
Crime writer and forensic specialist, Jennifer Dornbush, will walk you through the foundational principles of crime and mystery writing that will help you ramp up the intrigue, suspense, and thrill of your next project – whether short story, novel, film, TV or other media platform!
What you’ll learn:
Who should attend?
Pour Me a Stiff One: Death Investigation Explained for Writers
Creators of crime dramas, mystery, thrillers, or suspense will inevitably comes across a dead bodies… maybe several. Corpses contain a body of evidence and thus, the keys to unlocking our fictional crimes. Jennifer Dornbush, forensic specialist and crime writer, will walk you through the inner workings of death investigation and how to create authentic death investigation scenes for those story moments when you need “to drop a body.” All this, in safe, non-gory setting… with a little gallows humor.
What you’ll gain:
Who should attend?
Forensic Faux Pas & How to Get Away With Murder!
Have ever wondered if coroners really eat sandwiches while doing autopsies? Or if wearing a low cut dress and high heels to the scene of a crime is sanitary? Walk away knowing when to authenticate or fabricate your crime fiction.
During this interactive workshop explore the top 10 common forensic faux pas you can turn into writing tricks that elevate your story, while still making it believable and entertaining.
What you’ll gain:
Who should attend?
Screenwriting 101 for Novelists
Ever dreamed of seeing your idea, story, or novel on the screen? This seminar covers screenwriting basics – structure, formatting, pitching, and selling. Taught by Hollywood-based film and TV scribe, Jennifer Dornbush, who has penned feature films, developed television series, and adapted scripts to novels and vice versa.
Who should attend?
What we’ll cover?
Structure 101 – how to structure your stories in film and TV format
Formatting 101 – everything you need to know to make your scripts look professional
Pitching & Selling 101 – key things you must know about pitching and selling to Hollywood
Q&A about the Biz – ample time to get your questions answered.
The Sweet 16!
“I Need A Hero!” is not just the name of an 80s pop song but the cry of every great story. Walk your hero through what I call The Sweet 16. These story beats/questions guarantee you will not only have a memorable, actionable hero, but a solid story structure that keeps your focus on the hero’s journey. It’s an easily-repeatable method that works for any story form: short film, novella, novel, screenplay, TV pilot, stage play, even documentary & memoir.
Who should attend?
Writing For The Screen
Take your project and your dream to the next level. Go deeper into crafting your project for the screen. Get your story Hollywood-ready. Hone your “rejection skills” and how to decipher Hollywood notes you might get. Top Tips on how to gain the attention of producers. The best resources on deal making. How to create a Hollywood dream team. When is the right time to step into the limelight with your best foot forward!
Taught in 3 Sections:
1) Getting Your Story Ready for Hollywood (putting your best foot forward!)
2) Getting Yourself Ready for Hollywood (prepping, pitching & dealmaking)
3) Getting Ready for the Red Carpet (how to journey with your project once it sells)
Who should attend?
What you’ll gain:
Jennifer Dornbush works as a screenwriter, author, speaker, and forensic specialist.
She has developed film and TV projects, authored numerous books, and frequently speaks around the world on crime fiction and forensics. She divides her time between Upper Michigan and Arizona.
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